Review: Silver Bullet
Blu-ray & DVD: Silver Bullet (1985)
A series of unexplained murders are occurring in the quiet town of Tarker’s Mill and the residents, pushed to breaking point, decide to hunt down the killer. When many of the vigilantes are killed, it is the unlikely hero of the young wheelchair bound Marty (Corey Haim), along with his sister Jane (Megan Follows) and Uncle Red (Gary Busey) who are left to face the killer.
The titular ‘silver bullet’ doesn’t refer to the usual killing method of a werewolf (though one does appear in the movie), but rather the name given to Marty’s pimped wheelchair which can zip along at speeds so fast that he would surely be disqualified from the Paralympic Games.
Marty’s wheelchair isn’t the only thing that keeps on moving, as the narrative never slows up and one bloody kill is never too far away from another. The gory effects are well done and the werewolf itself is convincing enough whenever it appears.
Corey Haim gives a great performance and is an actor who is sadly remembered by many for his excesses offscreen, rather than some of his great onscreen work. A year after Silver Bullet he gave what I rate as his best performance ever in Lucas, and then the following year was unforgettable in The Lost Boys. As Marty Coslaw, he is both vulnerable and feisty. His relationship with Uncle Red is something that a lot of people can relate to, and Gary Busey relishes the role of a drunk Uncle who loves pushing his sisters buttons by being especially mischievous around her son.
Everett McGill oozes a certain creepiness as Reverend Lowe, and on a side note, he looks incredibly well in one of the interview special features. I find it hard to believe that he only has 28 acting credits!
Silver Bullet builds up the tension as the narrative unfolds, with a kill, action set-piece, or plot reveal always around the corner. With characters that you care for and one of the few (if only!) ‘motorised wheelchair car chase’ sequences committed to celluloid, it’s a fun ride that will have you coming back for more.
Some informative and entertaining special features round off another disc that would be a great addition to anyones collection.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
- Audio Commentary with Director Daniel Attias
- The Wolf Within – An Interview with Actor Everett McGill
- Full Moon Fever – Interviews with Special Effects Artists Michael McCracken, Jr. and Matthew Mungle
- Dino’s Angel Takes on Lycanthropy: Martha De Laurentis Remembers SILVER BULLET (25 minutes)
- Isolated Score Selections and Audio Interview with Composer Jay Chattaway
- Theatrical trailer (HD)
- TV Spot
- Radio Spot
- Still Gallery
Review by Dave (host of 60 Minutes With) from a disc kindly supplied by Umbrella Entertainment.
